GATHERING
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
I, the highest and fiery power
have kindled every living spark
and I have breathed out nothing that can die…
I am the fiery life of the divine essence…
I flame above the beauty of the fields:
I shine in the waters;
in the sun, the moon and the stars.
I burn. And by the means of the airy wind,
I stir everything into quickness
with certain invisible life which sustains all… —Hildegard of Bingen
Each participant took a candle at the end of the service.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come Holy Spirit, Come Breath of God!
Voice 1: Light of our hearts, Peace of our souls.
Voice 2: Come Generous Spirit, renew and strengthen us.
All: Enter the inmost depths of our hearts!
All: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
INVOCATION
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
CHANT
All: Burn in me your love, sing in me your song
Holy Lover of all, Holy Lover of all.
SILENCE
PRAYERS
COMMON CONFESSION
Leader: How can we hear the voice of God?
Voice 1: I am convicted by each morning’s news
Voice 2: I too am one unable to act
All: How can we hear the voice of God?
Voice 1: Watching the murder of earth and creation
Voice 2 By gun, by bombing, by terror, by torture, by war, by hunger, by AIDS, by disease—
All: How can we hear the voice of God?
Voice 1: By ignorance, loneliness, exploitation, overconsumption, greed and fear—
Voice 2: In all the noise, the world seems deranged—
All: How can we hear the voice of God?
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: You are our only Comforter. You refresh us. In our trouble You strengthen us. Shower your gifts on us. Give us lasting joy.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION
BODY PRAYER
Body Chorus: Walking alone on silent retreat
Before golden evening fades to dusk
I am seduced, at meadow’s edge.
A cherry tree in early bloom—
Whose bright rosy buds like tropical birds
Nest in soft petals of blushing white—
Its balm engulfs my aching soul.
Behind this vision of fragrant excess
The cherry’s younger sister lags—
A dogwood half a season behind
And drab in its greenness; not yet ripe,
Its blossom petals, like battered cups
Burnt at the edges, the shade of dried blood
As if just singed
By tongues of flame.
In silence you speak, Holy Lover of all.
Burn in me your love.
Sing in me your song.
Send me.
HYMN
THE WORD
SCRIPTURE
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Go into the world in peace, have courage, hold on to what is good, return to no one evil, strengthen the faint of heart. Support the weak, help the suffering, honor all people, love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit, have courage, go in peace, have courage, go in peace.
